Mechanical sports ball catapult system

ABSTRACT

The sports ball catapult driven by mechanical means disclosed herein may comprise a main body, an arming mechanism, a drive mechanism, a cradle mechanism, and a firing mechanism. The system is designed to operate by purely mechanical means and without power, and is launch speed and launch angle adjustable. The action of the system is such that the arming mechanism may be engaged by a user to apply tension on the cradle mechanism and drive mechanism. The user may then place a ball into the cradle mechanism, and may launch the ball from the system by engaging the firing mechanism. The engaging of the firing mechanism releases the tension in the system, causing the cradle mechanism to accelerate the ball into the air. The entire system is contained within the main body, which is designed to provide an easily moveable, lightweight, and low maintenance solution for achieving such a purpose.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to exercise devices, and, morespecifically, to a mechanical sports ball catapult system.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may containmaterial that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registeredtrademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with theapplicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example andshould not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of thisinvention to material associated only with such marks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Exercise equipment, generally, may be any apparatus or device usedduring physical activity to enhance the experience or outcome of anexercise routine. Many exercises and sports involve a user catching orotherwise interacting with a ball travelling through the air, forexample American football requires that players catch thrown passes orkicked punts, and the practicing of such interactions is necessary forthe improving of a player's proficiency in the sport. A number ofdevices have been developed to aid in the improving of such proficiency,including automatic ball-throwing and ball-launching devices. Suchdevices, though, tend to utilize powered means of accelerating a balland a sled to guide it into the air.

Examples of such devices include ball launchers and ball cannons, whichare powered devices utilizing pairs of wheels spinning at high speed andaccelerating a ball along an angled or curved sled. Such devices may beadjusted to alter ball speed and trajectory through the system, thoughtend to comprise heavy and expensive units requiring complicated systemmaintenance. A tension-powered mechanical design utilizing well-knowncatapult principles would result in a lighter, more mobile, moreinexpensive, and more easily maintained ball launching system.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a mechanical sports ball catapultsystem. It is to these ends that the present invention has beendeveloped.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize otherlimitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding thepresent specification, the present invention describes a mechanicalsports ball catapult system.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may not require electrical power tooperate.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise a tension catapult design.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise a structural main bodyupon and within which the various components are housed and made mobile.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise an arming mechanism.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise a drive mechanism.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise a cradle mechanism.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise a firing mechanism.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise launch speed adjustment.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanicalsports ball catapult system that may comprise launch angle adjustment.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention aredescribed herein with specificity so as to make the present inventionunderstandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, both with respect tohow to practice the present invention and how to make the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments and examples of the claimed subject matterwill hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawingsprovided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claimed subjectmatter, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a mechanical sports ball catapultsystem from a front three-quarters perspective, in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an overall view of a mechanical sports ball catapultsystem from a rear three-quarters perspective, in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an overall view of a mechanical sports ball catapultsystem from a front perspective, in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first detailed view of an arming mechanism of asports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second detailed view of an arming mechanism of asports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a first detailed view of cable routing components ofa sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a second detailed view of cable routing components ofa sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed view of a cradle angle adjustment means ofa sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a detailed view of a cradle mechanism of a sportsball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of a drive mechanism of a sportsball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a detailed view of a firing mechanism of a sportsball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a detailed view of a firing mechanism of a sportsball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed view of a firing mechanism of a sportsball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the described embodiments or the application anduses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary”or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or“illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations. All of the implementationsdescribed below are exemplary implementations provided to enable personsskilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure andare not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is definedby the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by anyexpressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field,background, brief summary, or the following detailed description. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

The present invention relates in general to exercise devices, and, morespecifically, to a mechanical sports ball catapult system. Ascontemplated by the present disclosure, the combination comprises astructural main body, an arming mechanism, a drive mechanism, a cradlemechanism, and a firing mechanism. The various mechanisms may be of anydesign appropriate to achieve their desired functions, though may bedesigned as described in the various embodiments disclosed herein.

The illustrations of FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate an overview of amechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The figures identify a main body 100, armingmechanism 200, cradle mechanism 300, and a drive mechanism 400. The mainbody 100 may provide structural support and mobility capacity to theentire system, and may generally comprise a plurality of side panels 102and a rear panel 114 attached to a system skeleton, said skeleton beingdefined by a plurality of cradle support frames 104, a plurality ofvertical frames 106, and a plurality of horizontal frames 108 in agenerally squared or rectangular construction.

A lower end of each of the plurality of vertical frames 106 may attachto an axle 112 upon which a plurality of wheels 120 may be attached, andan upper end of the plurality of vertical frames 106 may attach to ahandgrip 110 so that the system may be tilted and rolled from oneposition to another. External to the rear panel 114 and hinging on theaxle 112 may be an arming mechanism 200 (discussed further below). Theplurality of cradle support frames 104 may comprise a curved frame uponwhich may slide a plurality of cradle angle brackets 320 (discussedfurther below).

The illustrations of FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate a detailed view of anarming mechanism 200 of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The arming mechanism200 may comprise an arming pedal 202 attached on either side to aplurality of arming pedal arms 204 that may articulate around the axle112. The arming pedal 202 may be engaged by a user pressing down withtheir foot, and may pull on an arming cord 206.

The arming cord 206 may attach at its opposite end to the cradlemechanism 300 (discussed further below). The plurality of arming pedalarms 204 may pass through the rear panel 114 and may be attached via aplurality of tensioning cords 304 to the plurality of horizontal frames108 of the system skeleton to provide tension that returns the armingmechanism 200 to its unloaded state. A plurality of cable routingcomponents 150 may be built into the system, as required, to preventbinding of the various cables used.

The illustrations of FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a detailed view of acradle mechanism 300 of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The cradle mechanism300 may comprise a cradle 302, a plurality of cradle tensioning cords304, and a plurality of fasteners 306. The arming cord 206 may beattached to the cradle 302 such that the engaging of the armingmechanism 200 by a user results in tension being applied to the cradlemechanism 300. The arming cord 206 may be attached to a retaining ball308, which may itself engage the drive mechanism 400 to facilitate theaction of the firing mechanism 500 (discussed further below).

The plurality of fasters 306 may attach to a plurality of fastenerreceivers 324 that may then be attached to a plurality of cradle anglebrackets 320. The cradle angle brackets 320 may be attached to thecradle support frames 104 by a means for cradle angle adjustment 322such that the cradle angle brackets 320 provide a stationary foundationagainst which the plurality of cradle tensioning cords 304 may be pulledto apply tension to the cradle mechanism 300. The cradle angle brackets320 may slide along the curvature of the cradle support frames 104 andmay be set at various positions on the cradle support frames 104 via thecradle angle adjustment 322 so as to alter the launch angle of a sportsball contained within the cradle mechanism 300.

The illustration of FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of a drivemechanism 400 of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure. The drive mechanism 400 maycomprise a drive piston arm 402, drive carriage 404, and a plurality ofdrive carriage sliders 406. The drive piston arm 402 may be pulled bythe action of the arming mechanism 200 pulling on the arming cord 206and its connected retaining ball 308. The movement of the retaining ball308 may act on the drive piston arm 402, which may then move the drivecarriage 404 along its path on the plurality of drive carriage sliders406.

The drive carriage sliders may be attached to the drive mechanism 400bracketry by a plurality of tensioning springs such that the drivecarriage 404 is returned to its unloaded position when the firingmechanism 500 is engaged by a user. A spool cable 522 may attach thedrive carriage 404 to the firing mechanism 500, and may act as thetension-releasing mechanism that causes a ball to be launched from thesystem. The tension acting on the various components of the drivemechanism 400 may be adjustable so as to alter the launch speed of aball contained within the cradle mechanism 300.

The illustrations of FIGS. 11 through 13 illustrate a detailed view of afiring mechanism 500 of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The firing mechanism500 may comprise a firing mechanism cover 502, a traction pad 504, and afiring mechanism housing 506. Contained within the firing mechanismhousing 506 may be a firing piston arm 512, a firing carriage 514, aplurality of firing carriage rails 516, and a spool assembly 520. Thespool assembly 520 may comprise a spool cable 522, a spool pulley 524,and a spool spring 526.

The spool cable 522 may be wrapped around the spool pulley 524, andtension may be applied on the spool pulley 524 by pulling on the spoolcable 522 and unwinding the spool spring 526. Such tension on the spoolpulley 524 may be released by the action of the firing carriage 514moving along the plurality of firing carriage rails 516. This action maybe triggered by a user pressing on the firing piston arm 512, which maybe connected to the firing mechanism cover 502. The firing mechanismcover 502 may be attached via a hinge mechanism to the firing mechanismhousing 506 and may have a traction pad 504 attached thereon such thatit substantially comprises a foot pedal trigger mechanism.

As discussed above, the action of the system is such that the armingmechanism 200 may be engaged by a user to apply tension on the cradlemechanism 300 and drive mechanism 400. The user may then place a ballinto the cradle mechanism 300, and may launch the ball from the systemby engaging the firing mechanism 500. The engaging of the firingmechanism 500 suddenly and rapidly releases the tension in the system,causing the cradle mechanism 300 to accelerate the ball into the air atthe selected launch speed and launch angle. The entire system iscontained within the main body 100, which is designed to provide aneasily moveable, lightweight, and low maintenance solution for achievingsuch a purpose.

The mechanical sports ball catapult system may be substantiallyconstructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, buttypically is constructed of a resilient material or combination ofmaterials such that the device is resistant to tearing and damage as aresult of compression, stretching, twisting, heating, or submersion inwater. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the presentinvention, various exemplary embodiments of the device may besubstantially constructed of one or more materials of plastic, acrylic,polycarbonate, steel, aluminum, brass, fiberglass, carbon fiber, orcombinations thereof.

In one embodiment the material of construction may vary from onecomponent to the next within the device. By way of example, thestructural support components of the mechanical sports ball catapultsystem may comprise a wear-resistant material of construction, such asmetals, to increase the life-span and improve the rigidity of thesystem. The cradle mechanism, instead, may comprise a flexible materialof construction, such as fabrics, to improve the tensioning ability ofthe system.

In one embodiment the mechanical sports ball catapult system maycomprise a resilient material of construction that either comprises amaterial having antimicrobial properties or comprises a layering ofantimicrobial material or coating. Antimicrobial properties comprise thecharacteristic of being antibacterial, biocidal, microbicidal,anti-fungal, anti-viral, or other similar characteristics, and theoligodynamic effect, which is possessed by copper, brass, silver, gold,and several other metals and alloys, is one such characteristic. Copperand its alloys, in particular, have exceptional self-sanitizing effects.Silver also has this effect, and is less toxic to users than copper.Some materials, such as silver in its metallic form, may require thepresence of moisture to activate the antimicrobial properties.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to covervarious modifications and equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A mechanical sports ball catapult system, comprising: astructural main body; an arming mechanism; a cradle mechanism; a drivemechanism; and a firing mechanism; wherein said arming mechanism, saiddrive mechanism, said cradle mechanism, and said firing mechanism areattached to said structural main body; wherein said structural main bodyfurther comprises a plurality of side panels, a rear panel, a pluralityof cradle support frames, a plurality of vertical frames, a plurality ofhorizontal frames, an axle, and a plurality of wheels; wherein a firstof said plurality of vertical frames is attached to a first end of eachof said plurality of horizontal frames, and a second of said pluralityof vertical frames is attached to a second end of each of said pluralityof horizontal frames; wherein an upper end of each of said plurality ofcradle support frames is attached to an upper end of each of saidplurality of vertical frames, and a lower end of each of said pluralityof cradle support frames is attached to a front end of said plurality ofhorizontal frames; and wherein said plurality of cradle support frames,said plurality of vertical frames, and said plurality of horizontalframes comprise a system skeleton.
 2. The invention of claim 1, whereinsaid axle is installed through a lower end of each of said plurality ofvertical frames; wherein a first of said plurality of wheels is attachedto a first end of said axle; and wherein a second of said plurality ofwheels is attached to a second end of said axle.
 3. The invention ofclaim 2, wherein said arming mechanism further comprises an armingpedal, a plurality of arming pedal arms, an arming cord, and a retainingball; wherein a first end of said arming pedal is attached to a firstend of a first of said plurality of arming pedal arms, and a second endof said arming pedal is attached to a first end of a second of saidplurality of arming pedal arms; and wherein a first end of said armingcord is attached to said arming pedal.
 4. The invention of claim 3,wherein said cradle mechanism further comprises a cradle, a plurality ofcradle tensioning cords, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality ofcradle angle brackets; wherein a first end of each of said plurality ofcradle tensioning cords is attached to said cradle; and wherein a secondend of each of said plurality of cradle tensioning cords is attached toone each of said plurality of fasteners.
 5. The invention of claim 4,wherein said drive mechanism further comprises a drive piston arm, adrive carriage, a plurality of drive carriage sliders, and a means fordrive tensioning; wherein said drive piston arm is attached to saiddrive carriage; wherein said drive carriage slides along said pluralityof drive carriage sliders; and wherein said drive carriage is attachedto said means for drive tensioning.
 6. The invention of claim 5, whereinsaid firing mechanism further comprises a firing mechanism cover, afiring piston arm, a firing carriage, a plurality of firing carriagerails, a means for firing tensioning, and a spool cable; wherein saidfiring piston arm is attached to said firing carriage; wherein saidfiring carriage slides along said plurality of firing carriage sliders;wherein said firing carriage is attached to said means for firingtensioning; and wherein a first end of said spool cable is attached tosaid means for firing tensioning.
 7. The invention of claim 6, whereinsaid retaining ball is attached to a middle portion of said arming cord;wherein said retaining ball is placed within said arming mechanism;wherein a second end of said arming cord is attached to said cradle;wherein a second end of said spool cable is attached to a drive tensionrelease attached to said drive carriage; and wherein each of saidplurality of fasteners is attached to said plurality of cradle anglebrackets; and wherein one each of said plurality of cradle anglebrackets is attached to one each of said plurality of cradle supportframes.
 8. The invention of claim 7, wherein a user activates saidarming mechanism by moving said arming pedal; wherein said moving ofsaid arming pedal activates said arming cord; wherein said activation ofsaid arming cord moves said retaining ball; wherein said moving of saidretaining ball activates said drive piston arm; wherein said activatingof said drive piston arm slides said drive carriage and increases atension within said means for drive tensioning; wherein said activationof said arming cord pulls said cradle; wherein said pulling of saidcradle increases a tension in each of said plurality of cradletensioning cords; wherein said sliding of said drive carriage pulls saidspool cable; and wherein said pulling of said spool cable slides saidfiring carriage and increases a tension within said means for firingtensioning.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein a user activates saidfiring mechanism by moving said firing mechanism cover; wherein saidmoving of said firing mechanism cover releases said tension within saidmeans for firing tension; wherein said release of tension within saidmeans for firing tension activates said drive tension release; whereinsaid activation of said drive tension release releases said tensionwithin said means for drive tensioning; and wherein said release oftension within said means for drive tensioning releases said tension ineach of said plurality of cradle tensioning cords.
 10. The invention ofclaim 9, wherein each of said cradle angle brackets further comprises ameans for angle adjustment; wherein each of said cradle support framesfurther comprises a means for receiving angle adjustments; wherein oneeach of said cradle angle brackets is attached to one each of saidcradle support frames by a sliding mechanism; and wherein a relativeposition of said cradle angle brackets on said cradle support frames maybe adjusted by moving said means for angle adjustment from a first meansfor receiving angle adjustments to a second means for receiving angleadjustments.
 11. The invention of claim 10, wherein a first of saidplurality of side panels is attached to a first outer side of saidsystem skeleton; wherein a second of said plurality of side panels isattached to a second outer side of said system skeleton; and whereinsaid rear panel is attached to a rear side of said system skeleton. 12.The invention of claim 11, further comprising: a handgrip; wherein saidhandgrip is installed through an upper end of each of said plurality ofvertical frames.
 13. The invention of claim 12, wherein said tension ineach of said plurality of cradle tensioning cords is adjustable.
 14. Theinvention of claim 12, wherein said tension in said means for drivetensioning is adjustable.
 15. The invention of claim 12, wherein saidtension in said means for firing tensioning is adjustable.